Conductor cut-off.



LOUIS KU'EI-IN, OF IQ'IILW'AUKEE, WISGONSIN ASSIGNOR TO MILWAUKEE CORRUGATING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CONDUCTOR CUT-OFF.

Application filed October 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs KUEHN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conductor Cut-Offs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accom-v panying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to devices for diverting rain water or the like from one branch of a conductor pipe into another, such devices being commonly used to turn off the water supply to cisterns when they are filled and allow it to run to waste.

The main object of the invention is to strengthen, simplify and improve devices of this kind, and it consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like letters designate the same parts in both figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a conductor cut-ofi embodying the present invention, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction of the device; and Fig. 2 is a lower end elevation of the device. The device comprises a neck a, two branches 7) which are joined to each other and to the neck at their upper ends, and a reversible valve 0 at the junction of the branches for closing either branch and open ing the other as may be desired.

The several parts above mentioned are made of sheet metal, and when they are assembled the complete article is galvanized, tinned or coated with spelter to close the joints, prevent rusting and give it a finished appearance. 1

The neck a is formed adjacent to its lower end with an external circumferential bead d, and above said head is preferably corrugated lengthwise to correspond with the corrugations of the conductor pipe with which it is to be used.

The branches 6 are composed of continuous lengths or sheets of sheet metal, and are formed on their inner sides with transverse crimps e to take up the surplus metal and to give the desired curvature to the branches, which are substantially parallel with each other at their lower ends and converge toward their upper ends where they are joined to each other and to the neck a. .At the Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Feb. 13, i917.

1907. Serial No. 399,516.

upper ends they form a butting joint with the neck a on the under side of the bead d, which determines the relative positions of the parts in assembling them, and helps to form a tight strong joint between them, especially after they have been galvanized, tinned or coated with spelter.

Below the bead cl the neck projects into the upper ends of the branches 6, forming a rim f which the valve 0 overlaps on either side according to its position, and which serves to direct the water from the neck into the concave valve below its upper edge. Adjacent and transversely to the bead (Z, the adjoining edges of the branches 7) are lapped, and the edge of one branch is bent at an angle over and engages with the adjoining edge of the other branch in the crotch of the cut-off, as shown at g, Fig. 1, to make a strong tight joint and secure the parts together without riveting or soldering.

-The branches 7) like the neck a, are preferably corrugated lengthwise across the crimps c, whichare folded flat upon them to permit them to expand or yield, and prevent their bursting when water is frozen therein.

The neck and branches are preferably made each of a single piece of sheet metal, but may be made in sections extending their entire length and joined together by longitudinal seams.

The valve 0 is centrally pivoted in the opposite sides of the branches 7) at the junction thereof, and on one side is provided with a crank arm or handle it preferably made as shown, of heavy wire which forms one of the pivots.

To the adjacent side of the cut-off is attached a sector-shaped plate 2', stamped from sheet metal with radial depressions j at its center and ends. This plate is preferably formed with a perforated ear which encircles the pivot portion of the arm h. The depressions or seats j into which the resilient arm 72, springs, serve as stops to hold the valve in its two extreme positions for closing either of the two branches while the other is left open, or to hold it in its middle position for partially opening both branches.

The construction herein shown and described avoids the transverse joints which weaken the branches and render them more liable to burst in freezing weather when they are made in the usual way of several sections, besides being simpler and cheaper to make, and producing an article of more finished and attractive appearance than the usual sectional or pieced construction.

It will be observed that by forming the crimps 0 below the crotch made at the junction of the branches, the legs of the branches are not only broughtsubstantially parallel with each other but it is also made possible to form the upper portion of the branches above the crotch integral with the legs and of the gradual divergence illustrated. Furthermore, the crimps allord an additional thickness of metal and stiffen the branches at and below the crotch, and extending across the legs below the crotch they likewise stiffen the legs. It will further be ob served that the crimps at the crotch are in contacting cooperation to form a closed stiff joint at the crotch.

I claim:

1. A conductor cut-ofi" comprising a neck and two sheet metal tubular branches con nected with each other and with said neck at their upper portions, each branch being a continuous length of metal free from transverse joints, the upper portions of the branches being deflected gradually inward and upward and lapped one over the other, each branch below the crotch being formed with transverse crimps which bring the branches below the crotch into parallelism one with the other, the edge otone branch ad acent its upper crnnp being folded over and engaging the edge of theother branch adjacent its upper crimp to form a closed stifi' joint in the crotch, and a' reversible valve at the junction of the branches adapted to close either branch, substantially as described. 7

2. A conductor cut-off comprising a neck and two sheet metal tubular branches connected with each other and with said neck at their upper portions, each branch being a V the junction of the branches adapted to close either branch, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- LOUIS KUEHN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Gross, HERBERT R. MANGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for .five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

